Drill guide assembly

ABSTRACT

A drill guide to facilitate drilling a hole into a bone and inserting an anchor. The drill guide includes a handle extending to a proximal end and a guide shaft extending from the handle to a distal end. A recess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide also includes a channel extending through the recess and into the guide shaft and a contact surface extending from the recess. The contact surface may be a proximal surface on a ring extending circumferentially within the recess. The contact surface may alternatively be a proximal surface on a protrusion extending from and within the recess. For example, the protrusion is a triangular protrusion extending along the recess toward the channel. The contact surface allows for the use of inserters of varying sizes within the channel of the drill guide.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/460,384 filed on Jul. 2, 2019 and entitled “Drill Guide Assembly,”which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.62/693,776, filed on Jul. 3, 2018 and entitled “Guide with ImprovedInstrument Insertion and Depth Control Features,” the entirety of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed generally to a surgical system and,more particularly, to a drill guide to facilitate drilling a hole into abone and inserting an anchor.

2. Description of Related Art

Many orthopedic surgical and medical procedures require the fixation ofone body to another body. Such bodies may include bone, soft tissue, andprosthetics. One body can be fixed in a position relative to anotherusing connector devices, such as screws and suture anchors (e.g.,cannulated knotless suture anchors and soft all suture anchors). Forexample, various orthopedic surgeries require the insertion and fixationof a suture anchor within a bone. In such surgeries, prior to insertionof a suture anchor, a pilot hole is drilled into the bone.Traditionally, a standard single barrel drill guide is placed at thedesired pilot hole location on the bone and a drill is placed throughthe drill guide to create the pilot hole. The drill is then removed andreplaced with a driver (or “inserter”) pre-loaded with the sutureanchor.

Standard single barrel drill guides may have a flat, uniform (i.e.,even) contact surface where the drill enters the drill guide. As aresult of the flat contact surface, only instruments of one size can beaccommodated in the drill guide. A drill guide able to accommodatedrills and inserters of multiple sizes can be used for numerousprocedures, thereby requiring fewer instruments and decreasing thenumber of steps for carrying out the procedure.

Therefore, there is a need for a compact drill guide with one or morecontact surfaces for accommodating instruments of varying sizes.

Description of the Related Art Section Disclaimer: To the extent thatspecific patents/publications/products are discussed above in thisDescription of the Related Art Section or elsewhere in this disclosure,these discussions should not be taken as an admission that the discussedpatents/publications/products are prior art for patent law purposes. Forexample, some or all of the discussed patents/publications/products maynot be sufficiently early in time, may not reflect subject matterdeveloped early enough in time and/or may not be sufficiently enablingso as to amount to prior art for patent law purposes. To the extent thatspecific patents/publications/products are discussed above in thisDescription of the Related Art Section and/or throughout theapplication, the descriptions/disclosures of which are all herebyincorporated by reference into this document in their respectiveentirety(ies).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a drill guide forfacilitating drilling a hole into a bone and inserting an anchor.According to one aspect, the present invention is a drill guideextending along a longitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distalend, and includes a handle extending to the proximal end and a guideshaft extending from the distal end of the handle to the distal end ofthe drill guide. A recess extends into the handle at the proximal end.The drill guide also includes a channel extending through the recess andinto the guide shaft and a contact surface extending from the recess.The contact surface may be a proximal surface on a ring extendingcircumferentially within the recess. The contact surface mayalternatively be a proximal surface on a protrusion extending from andwithin the recess. For example, the protrusion is a triangularprotrusion extending along the recess toward the channel.

According to another aspect, the drill guide extending along alongitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, and includes ahandle extending to the proximal end and a guide shaft extending fromthe distal end of the handle to a distal end of the drill guide. Arecess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide alsoincludes a channel extending through the recess and into the guideshaft, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the recess. Eachprotrusion has a proximal contact surface.

According to another aspect, the drill guide extending along alongitudinal axis with a proximal end and a distal end, and includes ahandle extending to the proximal end and a guide shaft extending fromthe distal end of the handle to a distal end of the drill guide. Arecess extends into the handle at the proximal end. The drill guide alsoincludes a channel extending through the recess and into the guideshaft, and a plurality of rings extending circumferentially within therecess and from an exterior surface of the recess. Each of the pluralityof rings has a proximal contact surface.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from andelucidated with reference to the embodiment(s) described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more aspects of the present invention are particularly pointedout and distinctly claimed as examples in the claims at the conclusionof the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention are apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematic representation of a drill guide,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view schematic representation of the drillguide, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view schematic representation of theproximal end of the drill guide, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a close-up perspective view schematic representation of theproximal end of the drill guide, according to an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematic representation of the proximalend of the drill guide, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view schematic representation of theproximal end of the drill guide of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematic representation of the drill guideof FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view schematic representation of the drillguide of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view schematic representation of thehandle of the drill guide, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a close-up sectional view schematic representation of theproximal end of the drill guide, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a close-up sectional view schematic representation of theproximal end of the drill guide, according to yet another embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematic representation of a drill guideassembly in a first position, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view schematic representation of the drillguide assembly of FIG. 12 in a second position;

FIG. 14 is a side sectional view schematic representation of the drillguide assembly in the first position, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view schematic representation of the drillguide assembly in the second position, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention and certain features, advantages, anddetails thereof, are explained more fully below with reference to thenon-limiting examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings.Descriptions of well-known structures are omitted so as not tounnecessarily obscure the invention in detail. It should be understood,however, that the detailed description and the specific non-limitingexamples, while indicating aspects of the invention, are given by way ofillustration only, and are not by way of limitation. Varioussubstitutions, modifications, additions, and/or arrangements, within thespirit and/or scope of the underlying inventive concepts will beapparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

Referring now to the figures, wherein like reference numerals refer tolike parts throughout, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view schematicrepresentation of a drill guide 100, according to an embodiment. Thedrill guide 100 comprises a proximal end 102 and a distal end 104. Theproximal end 102 comprises a handle 106 extending to a cannulated guideshaft 108. In some embodiments, the guide shaft 108 extends proximallythrough the handle 106. The guide shaft 108 extends distally to thedistal end 104 of the drill guide 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG.1, the handle 106 is ergonomically curved for a comfortable grip.Further, the handle 106 of the drill guide 100 in FIG. 1 comprises aplurality of ridges 110 for a better grip for the user.

Still referring to FIG. 1, as stated above, the guide shaft 108 extendsdistally from the handle 106. In the depicted embodiment, the guideshaft 108 is narrow, having a diameter smaller than a diameter of thehandle 106. As shown in FIG. 1, the guide shaft 108 has a first portion112 and a second portion 114. The first portion 112 is connected to andbetween the second portion 114 and the handle 106. In the depictedembodiment, the second portion 114 has a diameter which is smaller thana diameter of the first portion 112; however, varying combinations ofdiameters or a uniform diameter of the guide shaft 108 may be used. At aminimum, the guide shaft 108 must have a diameter wide enough to pass adrill and an anchor therethrough. As shown in FIG. 1, the second portion114 comprises a distal crown end 116. The distal crown end 116 comprisesa plurality of protrusions 118 extending distally from the secondportion 114. The protrusions 118 engage the bone at the surgical siteand can aid in stabilizing the drill guide 100.

Turning now to FIG. 2, there is shown another perspective view schematicrepresentation of the drill guide 100. As shown, the proximal end 102 ofthe drill guide 100 comprises a recess 120 (or cavity) extending intothe handle 106. In the depicted embodiment, the recess 120 isfunnel-shaped, tapering distally. The recess 120 comprises an exteriorsurface 122 with one or more fins 124 protruding therefrom. In thedepicted embodiment, the fins 124 are triangular projections that extendradially toward a central channel 126 in the recess 120. Each fin 124comprises a proximal contact surface 128 where an inserter 200 (FIGS.12-15) extending through the channel 126 will contact the drill guide100. In the depicted embodiment, the contact surface 128 of each fin 124is the proximalmost surface of the fin 124.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown close-up perspectiveviews schematic representations of the proximal end 102 of the drillguide 100. In the embodiment of the drill guide 100 shown in FIG. 3 (andFIG. 2), the fins 124 extending along the exterior surface 122 of therecess 120 extend to or connect to a proximal edge 130 of the recess120. As shown in FIG. 3, each contact surface 128 of the fins 124 issubstantially flush with or planar with a proximal surface 132 of theproximal end 102 of the drill guide 100.

FIG. 4 shows the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100, according toan alternative embodiment. The fins 124 of the drill guide 100 in FIG. 4do not extend to the proximal edge 130 of the recess 120. The fins 124extend along the exterior surface 122 of the recess 120 between theproximal edge 130 and the channel 126. Because the fins 124 do not reachthe proximal edge 130 of the recess 120, the drill guide 100 canaccommodate an inserter 200 (FIGS. 12-15) with a large handle 202.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, there are shown various perspective viewsschematic representations of the drill guide 100, according to anotherembodiment. In the depicted embodiment, the contact surfaces 128 extendto the channel 126 in the drill guide 100. Similar to that shown inFIGS. 2-3, the contact surfaces 128 extend to the proximal edge 130 ofthe recess 120. In addition, the embodiment of the drill guide 100 shownin FIGS. 5-8 has contact surfaces 128 which are flush with the proximalsurface 132 of the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100. The funnelshape or taper of the recess 120 in FIGS. 5-8 is more gradual and deeper(i.e., extends farther distally) than the recess 120 of the drill guide100 in FIGS. 1-4. The drill guide 100 in FIGS. 5-8 is optimized forinjection molding. For example, the fins 124 in the recess 120 each havea central wall 134 which extend to the channel 126.

Turning now to FIG. 9, there is shown a partial sectional view schematicrepresentation of the handle 106 at the proximal end 102 of the drillguide 100, according to an alternative embodiment. The drill guide 100shown in FIG. 9 extends along a central longitudinal y-y axis. In thedepicted embodiment, the recess 120 extending into the handle 106 isfunnel-shaped, tapering distally along the central longitudinal y-yaxis. The contact surface 128 within the recess 120 is a flat, distalsurface in the recess 120. As shown in FIG. 9, the contact surface 128extends along a lateral x-x axis which is substantially perpendicular tothe central longitudinal axis y-y. In the depicted embodiment, thechannel 126 in the recess 120 extends to the first portion 112 of theguide shaft 108 and the first portion 112 of the guide shaft 108 iswithin the handle 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 10-11, there are shown close-up sectionalperspective views schematic representations of the proximal end 102 ofthe drill guide 100, according to another embodiment. In the depictedembodiment, the recess 120 extending into the handle 106 is alsofunnel-shaped, tapering distally. The drill guide 100 in FIG. 10comprises a single ring-shaped contact surface 128. The contact surface128 extends circumferentially within the recess 120. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 10, the contact surface 128 extends to the proximal edge130 of the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100. The contact surface128 is also planar or substantially flush with the proximal surface 132of the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100. This reduces the riskthat the tip of the inserter 200 (FIGS. 12-15) catches once it is in therecess 120 as the recess 120 is uninterrupted when following a line(e.g., central longitudinal y-y axis) into the channel 126.

The drill guide 100 in FIG. 11 comprises a plurality of ring-shapedcontact surfaces 128. The contact surfaces 128 are spaced and extendcircumferentially within the recess 120. In the embodiment shown in FIG.11, one of the plurality of contact surfaces 128 extends to the proximaledge 130 of the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100. That contactsurface 128 is also planar or substantially flush with the proximalsurface 132 of the proximal end 102 of the drill guide 100. As alsoshown in FIG. 11, another of the plurality of contact surfaces 128extends from the channel 126. Stated differently, a contact surface 128extends to and circumferentially around the channel 126. Having aplurality of contact surfaces 128 make the drill guide 100 compatiblefor multiple different inserters 200. The contact surfaces in FIG. 11each have a width smaller than the width of the contact surface 128 ofthe drill guide 100 in FIG. 10. The contact surfaces 128 in FIG. 11 aresmaller to reduce the likelihood that the tip of the inserter 200 (FIGS.12-15) catches on the contact surfaces 128.

Turning now to FIGS. 12 and 14, there is shown a perspective viewschematic representation and a side sectional view schematicrepresentation, respectively, of a drill guide assembly 10 in a firstposition, according to an embodiment. The drill guide assembly 10includes the drill guide 100 and the inserter 200. The inserter 200includes a proximal handle 202 with a drive shaft 204 extending distallytherefrom. The drive shaft 204 is sized and configured to fit within thechannel 126 in the drill guide 100. In the first position, the driveshaft 204 of the inserter 200 enters the recess 120 between the fins124. The channel 126 in the recess 120 then receives the drive shaft204, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14. From the first position, the inserter200 is advanced within the channel 126 to a second position.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 15, there is shown a perspective viewschematic representation and a side sectional view schematicrepresentation, respectively, of a drill guide assembly 10 in a secondposition, according to an embodiment. To install an anchor (not shown)in a bone hole at the surgical site, the inserter 200 (with the anchorattached at its distal end) is advanced within the channel 126 and theguide shaft 108. The inserter 200 is advanced until it reaches thesecond position. In the second position, a distal end 206 of the handle202 of the inserter 200 abuts the contact surface(s) 128 of the fins 124in the recess 120 of the drill guide 100. Although not shown, in thesecond position, the anchor at the distal end of the inserter 200extends from the distal crown end 116 (FIG. 1) of the drill guide 100.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood tocontrol over dictionary definitions, definitions in documentsincorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the definedterms.

While various embodiments have been described and illustrated herein,those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety ofother means and/or structures for performing the function and/orobtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages describedherein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to bewithin the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally,those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters,dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant tobe exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials,and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application orapplications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in theart will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routineexperimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments describedherein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoingembodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within thescope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described and claimed.Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” (andany form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (andany form of have, such as, “has” and “having”), “include” (and any formof include, such as “includes” and “including”), and “contain” (any formof contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linkingverbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises”, “has”,“includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements. Likewise, a stepof method or an element of a device that “comprises”, “has”, “includes”or “contains” one or more features possesses those one or more features,but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features.Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain wayis configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in waysthat are not listed.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below, if any, areintended to include any structure, material or act for performing thefunction in combination with other claimed elements as specificallyclaimed. The description of the present invention has been presented forpurposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to beexhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of one or more aspects of the invention and the practicalapplication, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art tounderstand one or more aspects of the present invention for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drill guide extending along a longitudinal axiswith a proximal end and a distal end, the drill guide comprising: ahandle extending from a distal end of the handle to the proximal end ofthe drill guide; a guide shaft extending from the distal end of thehandle to the distal end of the drill guide; a recess extending into thehandle at the proximal end of the drill guide; a channel extendingthrough the recess and into the guide shaft; a plurality of ringsextending circumferentially within the recess and from an exteriorsurface of the recess; and wherein each of the plurality of rings has aproximal contact surface.
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of rings are spaced along the exterior surface of the recess.3. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of rings extendsto a proximal edge of the recess.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein oneof the plurality of rings extends around and abuts the channel.